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Rockford teen races after his NASCAR dreams
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) - As kids transition into their teenage years, their childhood dreams tend to fade away. However, for 14-year-old Carter Nilson, his childhood dreams are becoming a reality right before his eyes. For Carter, racing isn’t just a hobby, it’s his lifelong passion. “Ever since he...
Rockford local Alex Witte heads off to pro soccer academy, shooting for the top
Another Rockford-area soccer player is headed to a pro academy. After it was just announced that Belvidere striker Aaron Jimenez signed a contract to attend the FC Chicago Fire Academy, another area standout — in fact, Jimenez's best friend, and often his goalie — Alex Witte is signed and leaves this weekend for another pro soccer academy. ...
Ski Broncs makes its triumphant return to the Rock River
LOVES PARK, Ill. (WTVO) — The Ski Broncs hit the water after weeks of canceling shows all summer due to no wake orders for the Rock River. “It’s just nice to provide entertainment for families, free entertainment at that for our community, and just give people something to go out and do on a Wednesday […]
Kubb Open set for Beloit Aug. 10
BELOIT - Pohlman Field once again will be hosting teams who will hurling blocks of wood and batons in the annual Kubb Open tournament on Saturday, Aug. 10. So far, 32 teams have signed up for the tournament in Beloit, with team names such as Ice Kubbs, Scooby Kubby Doo, BaraKubba and Kubbra Kai. Savanna Schindler, public relations specialist for Visit Beloit, said teams still can sign up for the...
Ski Broncs make long awaited return to the water
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) - It’s been a difficult summer for the Ski Broncs at Shorewood Park with the high water levels causing them to only put on two shows since June 21. However, tonight they made a long-awaited return. There was a new energy out there on Wednesday night...
Rockford-area tumbling and trampoline athletes place at national championships
Two of the area's top tumbling and trampoline training facilities recently competed in national competitions, using the buzz from the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris to help fuel a strong run in the junior divisions. "The Olympics definitely add a next level of excitement to all of our meets," J&J Trampoline and Tumbling...
Beloit Bombers had outstanding summer
BELOIT — Amidst the many tournament trophies and league titles, one major component of the Beloit Bombers organization’s summer stuck out to Beloit Youth Baseball Association president Matt Huffman. Growth. “We had a lot of firsts for some age groups,” Huffman said. And that speaks not only to the development of the athletes, but also...
Beloit Sky Carp beat Lake County Captains in extra innings
EASTLAKE, Ohio — Beloit Sky Carp reliever Evan Taylor’s fourth win of the season also may have been his most clutch. With the bases full and the Sky Carp ahead 3-2 in the bottom of the 10th, Taylor got Lake County Captains’ second baseman Jake Fox to smack a harmless fly ball into left that outfielder Dalvy Rosario secured to slam the door on Beloit’s victory on Thursday night. The...
U.S. Olympic women’s rugby player draws more national and local interest to the sport
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — As the spotlight stays on Illona Maher and the U.S. Women’s Olympic Rugby Team, women in the Stateline are also becoming enamored with the physical team sport. “People loved it, and it’s gotten more people into rugby,” said Maher. “It’s gotten me noticed by brands and it’s become a really cool […]
Basketball stars AJ and Ambranette Storr return to Rockford to hold free youth clinic
AJ Storr played high school basketball in Kankakee and Las Vegas. He played prep school basketball in Arizona and a post-graduate year in Florida. He’s been a college basketball star at St. John’s and Wisconsin before moving next year to Kansas. But he’s not from any of those places. He’s from Rockford. And proud of it. Storr, and his equally well-traveled star sister, will return to Rockford to hold a free youth basketball camp at the downtown...
Sky Carp vs. Captains Series-Opener Suspended
EASTLAKE, OH – Tuesday night’s first game of a scheduled six-game series between the Beloit Sky Carp (15-15, 45-48) and Lake County Captains (16-13, 57-38) has been suspended with no outs in the top of the second inning due to wet grounds. The two teams are tied at 0-0. Beloit and Lake County will make up the remainder of this contest as part of a seven-inning doubleheader on Wednesday, July 31. First pitch for Game 1 (nine innings), the resumption of Tuesday night’s game, is scheduled for 4 p.m., with first pitch for Game 2 (seven innings) to follow shortly after the conclusion of Game 1. Gates will open at 3 p.m.
Rockford Heat and Midwest Wildcats merge
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) - Big changes are coming to club basketball in the stateline with the two biggest clubs in the area merging. The Heat and Wildcats have been competing club basketball teams in Rockford for the past 19 years, but that’ll change this fall as the two merge together.
Registration open for GIFTS Men's Shelter golf outing
JANESVILLE — The 11th annual golf outing to support GIFTS Men’s Shelter is set for Wednesday, Sept. 4. This year’s event takes place at Prairie Woods Golf Course, 12601 East County Road A, Avalon. It’s a day of fun and friendly competition, all while raising funds for the men’s shelter. Special registration is open now until Saturday, Aug. 10, in which registrants will be entered into drawing for a Janesville...
Star goalie Erin McKinney becomes first from Rockford area to make pro debut in NWSL
Erin McKinney, the former Belvidere North star goalie who earned her way into the National Women's Soccer League, got her shot earlier this month and made her professional debut. She became the first Rockford-area player to start a game in the NWSL, getting the starting nod and playing the entire game in goal for the Houston Dash against the Kansas City Current on July 20. The Current has the leading offense in the NWSL, and they pounded...
IceHogs Community Fund Awards $10,000 Grant to Rockford Raptors Soccer Foundation
Grant to provide scholarships for low-income youth to participate in Raptors soccer. The Rockford IceHogs Community Fund has awarded a $10,000 grant to the Rockford Raptors Soccer Foundation to support scholarships for low-income youth in the Rockford region who wish to play competitive club soccer. The IceHogs Community Fund presented...
Dragons roll in matinee, 12-4
LANSING, Mich. – The Dayton Dragons (19-13, 53-45) homered in each of the final three innings, soaring to a 12-4 victory over the Lansing Lugnuts (15-17, 47-50) on a hot Wednesday afternoon at Jackson® Field™. Cade Hunter knocked a three-run homer off Jake Garland in the seventh...
Ross Robertson verbally commits to Northern Michigan
SOUTH BELOIT — South Beloit senior Ross Robertson has always stayed true to his team-first mentality even as he steadily rose to become one of the best boys basketball players in the state of Illinois over the course of his prep career. And that mindset hasn’t wavered, even with Robertson’s announcement on July 16 that he has verbally committed to play basketball at NCAA Division II Northern Michigan. “I just...
Locos score seven in 3rd, crush Dragons
LANSING, Mich. – CJ Rodriguez capped a seven-run third inning with a two-run single – his second single of the inning – and the Lansing Locos (15-16, 47-49) destroyed the first place Dayton Dragons (18-13, 52-45), 10-2, in the opening game of a six-game series on Tuesday night at Jackson® Field™.
Perfect Game, Visit Beloit and Stateline Family YMCA teamed up to host tournaments this summer
BELOIT — Perfect Game, the premier provider of amateur baseball events and one of the most respected organizations in youth baseball, was looking to expand its reach into Wisconsin. What a better place to start than Beloit? Visit Beloit partnered with Perfect Game to bring a pair of tournaments to the state for the first time with the Super 25 Wisconsin Regional being held on June 15 and 16 and...
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